Best exterior paint colors

What are the Best exterior paint colors for me?

In my work as a color consultant, many people have asked me what the
best exterior paint colors are. It’s a big question! It’s like asking
what’s the best ice cream flavor. Ask 50 people about their ideas for
house colors and you will most likely get as many answers. Color
preference is highly personal. As my grandmother used to say, “and
that’s why they make chocolate AND vanilla”.

But Wait, There's More!

OK, so you’re probably saying, “that’s all well and good but it still
doesn’t help me much when it comes to selecting the best exterior paint
colors. And you’re right, there’s not much direction there. Hope does
exist however and it is real! There are however some set guidelines for
choosing the best exterior house paint color palette which I will share
with you. These pointers will help you to weed out the poor choices and
send you in the direction of the perfect paint color. To make a bad
analogy, I’m going to help you find the rainbow, go over the rainbow,
and help you get the pot of gold (or whatever other color you like).

Don't be This House

Pictured above, a very common error made when reviewing paint colors;
This house is very,very blue, and if you could see the neighboring
homes, you'd know immediately just how out of place this potentially
beautiful home is. The sweet little paint swatch which looks so good in
the hand turns into a raging monster of a color when it is spread over
the side of the house. I will help you to understand how to avoid costly
mistakes.

How to Use Logic Creatively

Now there’s an oxymoron! “Help” you say, “I don’t have a creative bone
in my body”. That’s OK because I have a workaround. I will show you how
to use your left brain to help your right brain. Or, simply how to apply
your highly logical mind to come up with concrete solutions to creative
problems such as selecting paint colors.

Start by Asking Some Basic Questions

Regional preferences in paint colors and the quality of the light influence color choice.

Historic community?

Do you have to follow narrow guidelines because your house is in
a historic district or… maybe you just want to use traditional colors
on your older home.

Near Water? Mountains?

Reflected light from water or foliage affects color choices.
For example, I live in southeastern Massachusetts on the Rhode Island
border. I am about 50 miles from Cape Cod. House colors down on the Cape
can take bolder color. The reflected light from the sea makes
everything look a bit sharper. The same brighter colors in my
neighborhood would look overdone.

Don’t let your grandmother wear your daughter’s mini-skirt! Even
though they may both be size 6’s, the same treatment is great on one
but badder than bad on the other. Your Victorian gingerbread house will
ask for very different colors than your Tudor.

Some colors are more apt to fade with exposure to bright sunlight, do you know which ones?

5. Shaded or Sunny?

Colors will be magnified or lessened depending on the quality of
the light. A house which gets bright sun and is painted yellow may be
able to be seen out at sea for 100 nautical miles. I’m just kidding, you
can only see about 50 miles to the horizon.

6. Foundation Plantings?

Do you have plantings which have unusual color either in their flowering or their foliage?

Wow, I Can Breathe a Bit Easier Now!

This really isn’t that hard is it? Using a flow chart approach like this
automatically eliminates the choices which would not be right. Then you
can focus on those that remain. The more questions you ask, the smaller
the group of potential colors gets until you are left with just a few.
Then the only thing you have to deal with is your personal list of
colors you like and those that you don’t.

It’s Diana Ross AND The Supremes...What does that mean?

It’s my way of describing how a color scheme or any design is put
together. You always have a focal point, the main center of interest and
you have supporting members who are not as important as the star but
which help flesh the whole thing out..
For instance, your main house color, then your supporting cast; trim,
shutters, roof. Often, there is a spotlight that pinpoints a special
moment, this can be your front door color. See what I mean?

Decorating is Theater - The “WOW” Factor

A house gets painted to protect it from the weather so what’s all the
hub-bub about color ideas? Well if all paint did was to protect the
house, all houses would be white. Choosing your own colors lets you
express yourself. It also can change your house from just average to
“WOW”. Don’t we all want our homes to be the best they can be?